MXPA99010547A - An apparatus for applying drinking straws - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for applying drinking straws (3) on prefabricated packaging containers (17). The apparatus includes a rotary drive means (1) for advancing drinking straws (3) which are guided in towards the drive means (1) wrapped in protective envelopes, and continuously disposed as drinking straw belts (2). The apparatus also includes guides (4, 5) for drinking straws belts (2) and drinking straws (3), and a device for separating drinking straws (3) from the belt (2), and a device (16) for applying the drinking straw (3) on the side wall (18) of the packaging container (17). The drive means (1) of the apparatus rotates continuously, and the device (8) for separating drinking straws (3) from the belt (2) is disposed to accompany a part distance of the rotation of the drive means (1), this movement being realised by means of a cam (12) and a cam roller (13) cooperating therewith. The apparatus further includes a continuously driven conveyor (23) on which the packaging containers (17) are advanced so that one passes the drive means (1). The device (16) for applying drinking straws (3) to the side wall of the packaging container (17) is disposed to accompany a part distance of the movement of the conveyor belt (23). The accompanying movement is realised in that the applicator device (16) is journalled in two eccentric shafts (21, 22).

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE APPLICATION OF POPOTES TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for the application of straws to prefabricated containers for packaging, comprising a rotary drive means for the continuous straps of straws wrapped in protective wraps, guides for the straws of straws and straws, a conveyor for the containers for packaging, a device for separating the straws from the band, and a device for applying the straws to the side wall of the packaging container.

ANTECEDENTS OF THE TECHNIQUE Many single-use packages, disposable, for beverages, are manufactured in so-called portion volumes, for the purpose of being consumed directly from the package. Most of these packages are provided with straw in a protective wrap which is secured to a side wall of the packaging container. The packages, which are preferably parallelepiped in shape, are manufactured from a REF .: 32128 laminated with a core of paper or cardboard, with different layers of thermoplastics and possibly a thin sheet of aluminum. In one of the walls of the packaging container, more often in the wall of the upper part, a hole is drilled in the core layer and this hole is covered by the other layers of the laminate, which makes it possible to penetrate the hole with the straw that accompanies or comes with the container for packaging, and by this means consumes the beverage enclosed in the package.

There have been machines for the application of straws in their protective wrappings to the containers for packing which are transported through the machine. One such machine is, for example, described in Swedish Patent Specification SE-424 847. The operation of these machines is that a continuous wrap belt of straws with straws is guided in the direction of and surrounds a driving means. . Adjacent to the drive means, there are devices for separating the band of straws, in individual straws wrapped or enclosed in a protective wrapping, as well as devices for applying the straws to a side wall of the packaging container, it is advanced the container for packing on a conveyor through the machine. Before the moment of application, the packaging container is provided with securing points. The securing points may, for example, consist of a melting product, which is a molten glue that sticks or adheres the wrapper of the straw in its place and retains it when the glue hardens. In order to be able to separate each straw and apply the straw on the package, the impulse medium must be operated intermittently and the conveyor must advance the packages intermittently each time the application is made.

With the new and faster filling machines in which the parallelepiped packaging containers are manufactured, the demand for the development of faster machines for the application of straws has also increased. The new machines must be able to operate at least at the same speed as the filling machines to avoid the voluminous and expensive accumulation of equipment that is otherwise necessary.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to realize a machine for the application of straws to the containers for packaging that operates more quickly in such a way that the means of impulse and the conveyor can operate continuously.

SOLUTION This and other objects have been achieved in accordance with the present invention in such a way that the apparatus of the type described by way of introduction to given distinguishable characteristic in that the means of impulse rotates continuously and because the device for separation of straws is place to accompany a part of the distance of the rotation of the impulse medium, and because the conveyor is driven continuously, and also because the device for the application of straws is placed to accompany a part of the distance of the movement of the band transporter The preferred embodiments of the present invention have also given distinguishable features as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a detailed illustration, in plan view, of the central parts of the apparatus in accordance with FIG. present invention.

The drawings show only those details essential for an understanding of the present invention, and the remaining parts of the applicator machine which are well known to a person skilled in the art have been omitted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figure 1 shows the central parts of the apparatus with the included components, which are essential for the operation of the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a drive means 1, a so-called feeder wheel. A continuous band 2 of straws 3 is advanced towards the driving means 1 in protective wraps. The straws 3 are advanced via guides (not shown) as well as the guides 4 and 5 that surround the impulse medium 1 and that retain the strand 2 of straws and the straws 3 against the impulse medium 1.

On its circumferential surface, the driving means 1 has a number of recessed parts each destined for a straw 3. The number of recessed parts 6 in the driving means depends on the thickness and design of the straw 3. Thus, a driving means 1 intended for 3 straight or telescopic straws 6 may have seventeen recessed portions 6 on its surface, while one U-shaped strand 1 drive means 1 may have twenty recessed portions 6. Other distributions of the recessed portions may be presented.

Between each recessed part 6 in the circumferential surface of the driving means 1, a groove 7 is arranged. The groove 7 has the purpose of receiving a device 8 for separating the straws 3 from the strand 2 of straws. The device 8 for the separation of straws 3 has the shape of a knife 9 mounted in a tight fashion to a holder 10. The knife 9 with its holder 10 is secured to an eccentric arrow 11. The eccentric arrow 11 is connected to a cam 12. against which a roller for cam 13 acts. The cam roller 13 is centered on a fixed arrow 14. The complete device 8 stops. the separation of straws 3, with the holder 10 of the knife and the roller for cam 13 relate to a stump at the center point 15 of the impulse means 1.

The apparatus further includes a device 16 for applying a straw 3 to one of the side walls 18 of a packaging container 17.

The applicator device 16 includes one or preferably two arms 19. With two cooperation applicator arms 19, a more efficient and reliable placement of the straws 3 is obtained on the side wall 18 of the packaging containers 17. The arms 19 are oriented upwards, one to the other and are joined by a bracket , which may consist of a principle of an extension of the applicator arms 19. The bracket 20 is eccentrically related to a stump in the two arrows 21, 22 which have the same eccentricity. Parallel grooves (not shown) are provided in the drive means 1 in which the applicator arms 19 move.

The apparatus further includes a conveyor 23 which passes through the apparatus for transportation of the packaging containers 17 which are supplied with the straws 3. The conveyor 23 may consist of an endless conveyor belt.

The movable parts included in the apparatus, that is to say, the driving means 1, the separating device 8 and the applicator device 16 are mechanically connected to each other and driven by means of a motor (not shown) for example a servo motor. The servo motor drives the device via a band and / or gear teeth. The conveyor belt 23 has a speed that adapts to the other components included in the apparatus. The complete apparatus is designed so that it can be tilted variably, so that the packaging containers 17 that are advanced placed straight on the conveyor belt 23 will have the straws 3 placed at the desired angle of inclination on the packaging container 17. The inclination depends on both factors, the volume of the container for packed 17 and the size and shape of the straw 3.

The impulse means 1 which is placed to rotate continuously is the central unit in the apparatus. This is that the driving means 1 carr the straws 3 rotates from the moment when the continuous band 2 of straws 3 wrapped or wrapped in protective wraps reaches the apparatus via a number of guides (not shown), around the surface circumferentially of the driving means 1, the separating device 8 passes and is directed towards the applicator device 16. The driving means 1 moves with a gear ratio from the servo motor which depends on the number of recessed parts 6 on the circumferential surface of the impulse means 1. The impulse means 1 rotates a division, that is to say, a recessed part 6 for each packaging container 17 passing the impulse means 1. For example, a means of impulse 1 • for straws 3 rights may have a gear ratio of 17: 1 and a drive means 1 for U-shaped straws may have a gear ratio of 12: 1.

The device 8 for separating the straws 3 from the strip 2 performs two separate movements during each separation sequence. On the one hand, the knife 9 must reciprocate radially in relation to the driving means 1 and inside the groove 7 for the purpose of separating a straw 3 from the band 2. This movement is carried out by the eccentric arrow 11 on which the knife 9 is secured in its holder 10. On the other hand, the separating device 8 must accompany the continuous rotation of the driving means 1 during the time in which the separation sequence is running. This movement is carried out by means of the cam 12 and the cam roller 13 in cooperation therewith. Once the separation sequence is completed and the knife 9 has separated a straw 3 in its protective wrapping from the web 2, the separating device 8 returns to its initial position and there awaits a new separation sequence.

The conveyor 23 moves tangentially in relation to the driving means 1 and transports, through the apparatus, the packaging containers 17 which are provided with a straw 3. The conveyor 23 moves at a speed that is synchronized with the speed of the remaining components included in the device. Before the packaging containers 17 reach the impulse means 1, they have been provided, on their lateral surface 18, with points for securing, preferably two in number, which may, for example, consist of so-called fusion products . To the securing points, glue is applied in its place and, once the melting glue is applied, they retain the straw 3 in its protective wrapping against the side wall 18 of the packaging container 17.

The device 16 for appl straws 3 on the side walls 18 of the packaging containers 17 describes, by means of the two eccentric arrows 21, 22, an elliptical or alternatively circular movement so that the arms 19 move towards the impulse medium 1 and catch a straw 3. The straw 3 is moved by the rotary movement towards the side wall 18 of the packaging container 17 and "is applied against the points for securing As a result of the servo motor and the necessary gear ratios, the applicator arms 19 now move at the same speed as the conveyor 23 moves (and therefore also the packaging container 17), and the applicator arms 19 accompany, in their rotary movement, the packaging container 17 and the conveyor 23 in a short distance before the rotational movement recovers the applicator arms 19 and returns to its initial position where they await a new sequence. to application.

Alternatively, the device 16 for the application of the straws 3 may consist of an endless inpulsed band, which collects the straws 3 on the surface of the impulse means 1 and presses them against the side wall 18 of the packaging container 17 for a short period of time when the band runs parallel with and at the same speed as the conveyor 23 on which the packaging containers 17 are advanced.

Alternatively, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention can be used for the application of other objects such as, for example, spoons or the like which are intended to accompany the package 17 to the consumer.

As will be apparent from the above description, the present invention implements an apparatus for the application of straws 3 on the packaging containers 17 at a high speed since both the drive means 1 and the conveyor 23 move continuously.

The present invention should not be considered as limiting in relation to what has been described previously and that shown in the drawings, many modifications are conceivable without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant, to implement said invention is that which is clear from the manufacture of the objects to which it refers.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for the application of straws to prefabricated packaging containers, comprising a rotary drive means for the continuous straps of straws wrapped in protective wraps, guides for the straws of straws and straws, a conveyor for the containers for packaging, a device for separating straws from the strip, and a device for applying the straws to the side wall of the packaging container, characterized in that the pulsing means rotates continuously; because the device for the separation of straws is placed to accompany a part of the distance of rotation or rotation of the impulse means; because the conveyor is continuously driven; and because the device for the application of the straws is placed to accompany a part of the distance of the movement of the conveyor belt.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for the separation of straws consists of a knife and a holder for it, secured to the eccentric arrow; and in that a cam with a roller for cooperative cam is placed to perform the movement that accompanies the rotation or rotation of the impulse means.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the device for the application of straws consists of two arms joined by a bracket which is related to a stump in two eccentric arrows.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that both arrows have the same eccentricity.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the applicator arms, on the occasion of the application, are arranged to move at a speed at which it adapts to the speed of the conveyor.

6. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving means, the device for the separation of straws and the device for the application of straws are mechanically connected to each other.

7. The apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driving means has on its circumferential surface a number of recessed parts, each of which is intended to receive a straw.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the driving means is positioned to move the distance of a recessed part for each packaging container passing the driving means. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an apparatus for the application of straws (3), on prefabricated packaging containers (17). The apparatus includes a rotary drive means (1) to advance the straws (3) which are guided towards the impulse medium (1) wrapped in protective wraps, and are placed continuously as straws of straws (2). The apparatus also includes guides (4,5) for the straws of straws (2) and straws (3), and a device for the separation of straws (3) of the band (2), and a device (16) for the application of the straws (3) on the side wall (18) of the packaging container (17). The impulse means (1) of the apparatus rotates continuously, and the device (8) for the separation of straws (3) of the band (2) is placed to accompany a part of the distance of rotation or rotation of the impulse medium ( 1), this movement is carried out by means of a cam (12) and a roller for cam (13) of cooperation in that. The apparatus further includes a continuously driven conveyor (23) on which the packaging containers (17) are advanced so that one passes the impulse means (1). The device (16) for the application of straws (3) to the side wall of the packaging container (17) is positioned to accompany a part of the distance of movement of the conveyor belt (23). The accompanying movement is carried out by virtue of the fact that the applicator device (16) is related to a stump in two eccentric arrows (21, 22).